Yeh slow is the word.  I spent about 5 total hours wet sanding with progressively finer grit sanding sheets, and so far this is what I have managed to accomplish.

I have wiped out just about all of my sanding sheets, so I can't do anything more on it right now, probably not until next month when I have some more cash to get more sanding sheets.  The putty started breaking up near the wing joint, so I am amazingly, going to have to re-putty that area, and I have a LOT of rescribing work to do on that wing.

Since I am not sure if this will work or not, once I get everything smooth again...  I went to our storage place and rooted around for a while.  I didn't find the kit I wanted to work on, but I did find my Hasegawa 1/48 F104 kit.  I don't really care for the color scheme on the box, but I figure I can use the decals from a defunct Revell kit I have here.  Here are some images.  I started it last night.

Like I said, I don't care for the red markings.

I prefer this set, but unfortunately the kit doesn't supply accurate decals for it.  They have the stripes in a kind of yellow and the tail markings aren't there at all.

A good amount of very detailed parts.  My only gripe with the Hasegawa kits is that their plastic is very thin, and seems pretty fragile.  I'm always afraid when I have to cut one of those tiny detail pieces off of the spru.  There is one tiny little horseshoe shaped part that is the front ejection seat safety actuator, it is almost hair thin and I am not even going to try and attach it until I have finished all the other work on the cockpit tub.

See what I mean about the decals...?

I did this last night before I went up to bed.  At least they give you a decent set of decals for the control consoles and instrument panels.  I will probably put on a bit of decal film before I try and put them on.  Hasegawa kits seem to have kind of thin, somewhat fragile decals.

I'm off to do some more on it.  More pictures when I have enough to make the upload worthwhile.

Rich

Bockscar

Rich:

Actually it's okay to have it go slow, sometimes too fast

takes off way too much. When it gets thin enough you can treat it

like a smoothing project, if you take a bit too much off

then just the slightest lick of putty scraped to shape with a card

and you'r laughin'.

Yeah, bad luck with models was is only the latest in the bad luck curse.

The witch sent the cats to make it real personal.....lol

Rich:

Actually it's okay to have it go slow, sometimes too fast

takes off way too much. When it gets thin enough you can treat it

like a smoothing project, if you take a bit too much off

then just the slightest lick of putty scraped to shape with a card

and you'r laughin'.

Yeah, bad luck with models was is only the latest in the bad luck curse.

The witch sent the cats to make it real personal.....lol

You are welcome Rich.  Sorry it took so long, I just don't get out very often to where I can find the CD mailer available.

Yup.  It just showed up, I was about to let you know. lol.  Thanks!

Rich

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Rich, did that DVD show up yet?

Hi Rich, did that DVD show up yet?

Mike.  I do have a 1/48 R/M F100.  It's the Thunderbirds kit, but at this point I am afraid to start anything with the word sabre in the name. lol

Dom.  I am trying that trick now.  I put down some Tamiya tape to mask as much as possible and I am wet sanding the blob.  It's coming off a little, but it's slow going.

Gamera.  Yeh the wall is looking real good right now.

Rich

Scorpiomikey

Sparrowhyperion:

Mate, did some witch curse you in a past life? 

I think he peed in the witch's orange juice....

Seroiusly Rich, good luck, I know sometimes you want to fling the model into the far wall and toss your tools into the trash

Sparrowhyperion

I don't think so, but someone or something doesn't want me doing a Sabre....  If I can't get the gunk off the wing without demolishing it, I'm going to a backup plan...

 

 

Scorpiomikey:

 

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Well, it has been a busy day.  It's like 100 down in the basement today, although tomorrow, my Mom-In-Law is having central AC put in.. YAY!!!!!!

The Tiger is coming along nicely.  Small issue with the sabre though.  Does anyone have an idea what might take Tamiya white putty off of styrene?  When I was doing some gap filling on the wing roots, the tube ruptured and dropped a big glob of putty on the wing.  I got most of it off before it set, but there is still a large amount that set before I could wipe it off.  I didn't realize how fast that stuff dried...  I have to get it off of there, or the kit is toast...  I tried sanding, but it started to take off too much detail.  As it is, I will probably not be able to get the surface smooth enough for metalizer now.  So it will get a more mundane steel finish.  I will probably save the metalizer for my large scale 1/32  Hasegawa F86 instead.  If anyone knows how to get this stuff off, please let me know.  Thanks.

 

Rich

 

 

Gamera:

 

Rich: Looks good other than the heavy coat, hope it doesn't cause you any problems there.

Mike: Sharp work! As to what's missing I was going to guess- a flaming Zero??? I'm sure the vet's going to be thrilled- that's a beautiful bird you have there.

Ken: Sorry to hear about the problems, great idea there and yeah you still have a pile of wire left to try again some other time.

 

 

 

 

 

Mate, did some witch curse you in a past life? 

 

 

If the blob wasn't too huge, can you mask around it generously with only the blob showing through, then sand, that would minimize damage and rescribing.....

Dom

Super Sabre?

I don't think so, but someone or something doesn't want me doing a Sabre....  If I can't get the gunk off the wing without demolishing it, I'm going to a backup plan...

Scorpiomikey

 

Sparrowhyperion:

 

Well, it has been a busy day.  It's like 100 down in the basement today, although tomorrow, my Mom-In-Law is having central AC put in.. YAY!!!!!!

The Tiger is coming along nicely.  Small issue with the sabre though.  Does anyone have an idea what might take Tamiya white putty off of styrene?  When I was doing some gap filling on the wing roots, the tube ruptured and dropped a big glob of putty on the wing.  I got most of it off before it set, but there is still a large amount that set before I could wipe it off.  I didn't realize how fast that stuff dried...  I have to get it off of there, or the kit is toast...  I tried sanding, but it started to take off too much detail.  As it is, I will probably not be able to get the surface smooth enough for metalizer now.  So it will get a more mundane steel finish.  I will probably save the metalizer for my large scale 1/32  Hasegawa F86 instead.  If anyone knows how to get this stuff off, please let me know.  Thanks.

 

Rich

 

 

Gamera:

 

Rich: Looks good other than the heavy coat, hope it doesn't cause you any problems there.

Mike: Sharp work! As to what's missing I was going to guess- a flaming Zero??? I'm sure the vet's going to be thrilled- that's a beautiful bird you have there.

Ken: Sorry to hear about the problems, great idea there and yeah you still have a pile of wire left to try again some other time.

 

 

 

 

 

Mate, did some witch curse you in a past life? 

Sparrowhyperion

Well, it has been a busy day.  It's like 100 down in the basement today, although tomorrow, my Mom-In-Law is having central AC put in.. YAY!!!!!!

The Tiger is coming along nicely.  Small issue with the sabre though.  Does anyone have an idea what might take Tamiya white putty off of styrene?  When I was doing some gap filling on the wing roots, the tube ruptured and dropped a big glob of putty on the wing.  I got most of it off before it set, but there is still a large amount that set before I could wipe it off.  I didn't realize how fast that stuff dried...  I have to get it off of there, or the kit is toast...  I tried sanding, but it started to take off too much detail.  As it is, I will probably not be able to get the surface smooth enough for metalizer now.  So it will get a more mundane steel finish.  I will probably save the metalizer for my large scale 1/32  Hasegawa F86 instead.  If anyone knows how to get this stuff off, please let me know.  Thanks.

 

Rich

 

 

Gamera:

 

Rich: Looks good other than the heavy coat, hope it doesn't cause you any problems there.

Mike: Sharp work! As to what's missing I was going to guess- a flaming Zero??? I'm sure the vet's going to be thrilled- that's a beautiful bird you have there.

Ken: Sorry to hear about the problems, great idea there and yeah you still have a pile of wire left to try again some other time.

 

 

 

Mate, did some witch curse you in a past life? 

Rich, not sure but you could try some fine sandpaper and buff it out.

Ken: Awesome, enjoy the air-show!

Hi Everyone,

Well the stress is back at my job.  Apparently it was a short recess. 

I spent the evening working on the servers at work.  But I have already put in for a three day weekend.  There is an Air Show at the Indianapolis Regional Airport this weekend.  I am going to attend.  Looking forward to that.

Ken

Well, it has been a busy day.  It's like 100 down in the basement today, although tomorrow, my Mom-In-Law is having central AC put in.. YAY!!!!!!

The Tiger is coming along nicely.  Small issue with the sabre though.  Does anyone have an idea what might take Tamiya white putty off of styrene?  When I was doing some gap filling on the wing roots, the tube ruptured and dropped a big glob of putty on the wing.  I got most of it off before it set, but there is still a large amount that set before I could wipe it off.  I didn't realize how fast that stuff dried...  I have to get it off of there, or the kit is toast...  I tried sanding, but it started to take off too much detail.  As it is, I will probably not be able to get the surface smooth enough for metalizer now.  So it will get a more mundane steel finish.  I will probably save the metalizer for my large scale 1/32  Hasegawa F86 instead.  If anyone knows how to get this stuff off, please let me know.  Thanks.

Rich

Gamera

Rich: Looks good other than the heavy coat, hope it doesn't cause you any problems there.

Mike: Sharp work! As to what's missing I was going to guess- a flaming Zero??? I'm sure the vet's going to be thrilled- that's a beautiful bird you have there.

Ken: Sorry to hear about the problems, great idea there and yeah you still have a pile of wire left to try again some other time.

 

Rich: Looks good other than the heavy coat, hope it doesn't cause you any problems there.

Mike: Sharp work! As to what's missing I was going to guess- a flaming Zero??? I'm sure the vet's going to be thrilled- that's a beautiful bird you have there.

Ken: Sorry to hear about the problems, great idea there and yeah you still have a pile of wire left to try again some other time.

I hear you Ken,

Doing the same persnickity things day after day, with wire and tape and thread,

could leave a guy "strung out".....[whstl

When I was building that MkI Spitfire, 1/24 by Trumpeter.

Those vinyl cables, there was no glue on earth that was compatible...

Yeah, sometimes ya just gotta let it go....have some fun....

But to your credit, that's why so many guys use the photo-etch,

they can move on quickly to other things....

Bockscar

Ken,

that is so close,

wrapping might work, or a cone mandrel to round those out a bit, i.e put the loop over the tip of a pen and gently

coax the wire into a rounder shape.

My eyes hurt looking at them.

 

Thanks man.  Yes, it was close.  Each attempt at them I get closer and better.  I just finally got to the point that I just want to get moving onto something else for a while.  You know, after a while you just need to take a break.  Like I said, I got plenty more aircraft that will require the same type of handles so I will try it again on those.

I got the hoods painted so they are now drying.  Since it is enamel it will take 48 hours to cure.

Ken

Ken,

that is so close,

wrapping might work, or a cone mandrel to round those out a bit, i.e put the loop over the tip of a pen and gently

coax the wire into a rounder shape.

My eyes hurt looking at them.

Thanks Ken,

if Russ is up to sharing that would sure save a lot of work.

Still awed imagining a 50K+ bomb load........

I stood under that bomb bay in Dayton a few times....

the belly of the beast.

I've heard they went much higher...

Dom

Hi Everyone,

Here is a photo of how the first attempt turned out.  As you can see, the paint started to come off so that is when I stopped.  I will try again another time.

Ken

Bockscar

 

Thanks Russ,

by the way, saw the B-52 bomb clip, what, with 28 loaded. Didn't catch the Mk or weight of those, I was thinking about 750 lbs each? Two clips per bay? -thanks

Dom

Hey Dom,

One thing that Russ is putting together is instructions on how to put together the bomb clips that go into the B-52.  It is pretty cool.

Ken

Thanks everyone.  I agree with you Dom, I gained experience and I am not giving up on the idea, just moving on for now because I want to get something done.  Mikey, you might have something there with the thread, it certainly would not lose the paint.  I have plenty more aircraft that will require the same type of ejection handles so I will save it for the next time around. 

Ken

Striker8241

 

Bockscar:

 

 

Striker8241:

 

Bockscar:

 

Hey Russ:

As an old Boy Scout, thought I died and went to heaven!...lol

Thanks for the link, that's an afternoon of pure puttering!

Dom

 

 

Lol...my pleasure, Dom

Russ

 

Russ:

 

Any favorites?

Dom

 

 

Hi, Dom,

Turns out the link I found is only the tip of the iceberg - there are actually 6 pages that cover all of the Air Force squadrons. The home page for this enterprize is:

http://ljmilitaria.com/mainusafsquadrons/default.htm

Personally, I would be interested in the 6 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Clinton-Sherman AFB - I've never seen a patch for them - I do have a patch for the 70th Bomb Wing, however), 41st or 42nd Tactical Electronic Warefare Squadron (not sure which one I was assigned to at Takhli RTAFB, Thailand), 91st Tactical Recon Squadron (Bergstrom AFB, TX), 90th Special Operations Squadron (I was assigned to a special outfit called 1st Flight Detatchment that wasn't part of the 90th, but we supported their airplanes at Nha Trang, Vietnam), and 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron (Nellis AFB, Nevada). I have patches for the 91st and the 429th if I can ever find them again.

 Russ

by the way, saw the B-52 bomb clip, what, with 28 loaded. Didn't catch the Mk or weight of those, I was thinking about 750 lbs each? Two clips per bay? -thanks

Dom

Son Of Medicine Man

Hi Everyone,

Well, after all that work with the wire trying to make the ejection handles I give up.  Trying to manipulate it into the shape ends up scraping the yellow paint off of the wire.  At this point I have spent so much time trying to get this small thing done I am ready to move on.  I will just give in and use the color photo-etch.

I will paint the top hood black on the ejection seats to replace the green that I mis-interpreted from that picture and let that dry.

Ken

That's not great news. When I think about the tiny scale, thin as Franklin's eyebrow, I have to give you full marks.

I'm not sure how you bent them, but in case this isn''t what you did, maybe try wrapping the finished wire slowly around a knitting needle or something to radius scale, maybe wrap it around three or more times like a spring, then snip the best part of the loops off with a Xuron?

I dunno. I like Mikey's idea of braiding thread.

Don't feel too bad though no matter what the outcome. Working on a project like that gets you to another level of the craft's experience, and you will use those skills and knowledge another time on another project.

Dom

What about, instead of wire, use cotton thread? Most ejector handles are pliable. So if you took yellow and black cotton. then braided them together. Wouldnt that work?

Scorpiomikey

Thanks guys.

Thats a shame Ken. Im assuming you clear coated and everything? Did you paint the wire with enamel or acrylic?

No, I didn't clear coat.  It had a pretty thick coat of enamel.  It just couldn't hold up to the bending and manipulation I was putting it through.  Maybe I will try it again on another cockpit, but I am ready to get moving past this point.  I still have plenty of the wire left over already made up.

Ken

Thanks guys.

Thats a shame Ken. Im assuming you clear coated and everything? Did you paint the wire with enamel or acrylic?

Hi Everyone,

Well, after all that work with the wire trying to make the ejection handles I give up.  Trying to manipulate it into the shape ends up scraping the yellow paint off of the wire.  At this point I have spent so much time trying to get this small thing done I am ready to move on.  I will just give in and use the color photo-etch.

I will paint the top hood black on the ejection seats to replace the green that I mis-interpreted from that picture and let that dry.

Ken

Super job, Mikey! Looks awesome! 

Russ

Mikey;

great coral dust and weathering.

Maybe the antenna got shot off on the last sortie.......

The backwash from the guns looks good.

Wish you luck on your entry,

Dom